careernav.

Regardless of what year level you are in at school there will always be some sort of homework. It is a major part of going to school. This is the teachers only way, outside of class, to evaluate just how much you understand the material covered in class.

Fortunately there are some sure fire ways for you to make the work load just a little easier.

Below are some tips to help you make homework easier;

• Ask for help – Admit it, no matter how hard you concentrate, some classes will be harder to follow and remember the information being taught than others. You go home in the hope that while you sleep all that information will somehow make sense in the morning. WRONG. Ask for help as much as you can. No one is expected to understand everything, and everyone has a different learning style. Teachers are there to help you and there is nothing embarrassing about asking for help. If there is not enough time in class to discuss the problem then organise for a time out of class to do so.
  If you find you are really struggling with the class then a tutor may be the answer. Tutors work with you one on one, helping review and further explain things taught in the classroom.
• Create a homework plan – This is probably the most important part of all. Make sure you understand the work set or the assignment and ensure you know exactly when the work is due. Write the due date down in your school diary. If you have any extra time in class or you have a free period that will allow you to do some extra work, then take full advantage of it. This will decrease the amount of time you need to spend doing it at home. 
  As many students will have anywhere from 1 – 3 hours of homework to do each night it is a good idea to schedule your time correctly – especially for those who are involved with sport or have a part time job.
  Draw up a plan and stick to it.
• Where do I work? – The area you work in needs to be free from any noise or distractions if possible. Laying on your bed with the music going as loud as possible in the background just won’t work anymore. You need space to be able to spread your books out that is well lit.
• Put your work into order – Begin with the hardest work first. We all love to start off with the easier work first, but you will find that your energy and focus is stronger in the beginning, so use all this mental power on the challenging aspects of some subjects.
  If you happen to get stuck on a particular question or area try and figure it out. Just don’t spend too much time on any one single question as you may well find that nothing else gets done for the rest of the night.
• Remember to take a break – Depending on how long you intend on doing your homework it is a good idea to take a break here and there. You will become less productive if you sit for too long without relaxing or stretching. Try and have a 10 – 15 minute break around every hour, or when you are able to stop (especially if you are in the middle of a complex question. Finish this first then have a break).
  Remember – ALWAYS check your work and don’t rush it just to finish it. You don’t want to hand in your homework with mistakes in it.

The earlier in your schooling you learn how to set up a homework plan the better. It will become second nature and by the time you are in higher years at school you will have the edge on everyone who does not know how to set their time correctly.

Got any further tips for doing homework? Why not post a reply for your peers to reply to below.

Good luck.